Voters bounce Plymouth Rubber zoning change

Tuesday

Apr 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 29, 2008 at 3:50 AM

A proposal to build a 395-unit mixed-use development won’t get off the ground in Canton after residents voted to withdraw a Town Meeting article that would have changed the zoning at the Plymouth Rubber site on Revere Street.

Jeff Mucciarone

A proposal to build a 395-unit mixed-use development won’t get off the ground in Canton after residents voted to withdraw a Town Meeting article that would have changed the zoning at the Plymouth Rubber site on Revere Street.

Voters debated the article for more than two hours Monday night before deciding the 39-acre site will remain zoned for industrial use. Canton Development Properties, which is part of the Chicago-based Napleton Company that now owns the site, had hoped voters would opt for a mixed-use version of Paul Revere Commons.

he initial plan had called for 650 units, split between apartments and condominiums. In the most recent proposal, the developer had eliminated all apartments, and had included a $5 million mitigation package, that included preserving and enhancing the Revere Barn and Rolling Mill.

Voters decided to indefinitely postpone five of the Plymouth Rubber articles, and decided to withdraw one that called for the specific zoning change from industrial to mixed-use residential. Zoning changes require a two-thirds majority. None of Monday’s votes required a count.

Proponents argued the finished product would provide the town with additional tax revenue of more than $800,000 annually. The developer also said he would foot the hefty bill — estimated to cost more than $6 million — for environmental clean up at the site.

But critics of the development plan questioned the accuracy of the calculations regarding the project’s impact on schools, traffic and services. Others simply pointed to the current housing market as reason enough for not needing another 395 condominiums.

The future of the site, which Canton developer John Marini called “one of the most important and precious pieces of real estate left in Canton,” remains up in the air.

Town Meeting will reconvene Wednesday 7 p.m.

Still ahead for voters is the town’s $63.7 million operating budget a figure that includes funds from a proposed $4.49 million Proposition 2-1/2 operational override. Town Meeting voters must approve the override before it moves onto the May 15 Town Election ballot.

Jeff Mucciarone can be reached at jmucciar@cnc.com.

Canton Journal

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.